I find it interesting he had the surgery so long after the scan. Almost makes me wonder if one is related to the other.
The issue is if this is a good use of our health care resources. I do not know of any medical insurance company that pays for the initial scan, and I believe that they usually run at $1000 for the throrax, and $1000 for the abdomen. The cost to society (health care resources) frequently followup tests and biopsies are paid for by the insurance carrier. In the DC area there is a story that one boutique scanner (which is what I call this enterprise) that has consistantly found "abnormal" livers. Of course, many if not all of the patients had beign growths or normal livers, which was discovered after subsequent tests and sometimes surgeries, which the insurance companies paid for.
However, a positive finding, like Don Sutton, is good for business. And, yes, it is hard to argue against a case like his.
I would perfer that my doctor determine that I needed a scan, not a newspaper aid.
Susan McElrath <smhp@BELLSOUTH.NET> wrote:
Well-known hall of fame pitcher Don Sutton, currently an announcer for
the Atlanta Braves gave himself a "Christmas present" of a CT Scan for
Christmas 2001. Results: malignant kidney tumor, removed summer 2002,
prognosis: excellent.
I know these "CAT-mobiles" contribute to the overall dose, blah, blah,
but it's hard to argue against a case like Mr. Sutton's.